Belmont Park Fall Meet 2026 Schedule Announced

The New York Racing Association has announced the stakes schedule for the 2026 fall meet at Belmont Park, with live racing set to return on September 18 after the track's long redevelopment project. In its announcement, NYRA said the reimagined Belmont Park will open the fall meet with 72 stakes races worth a combined $17.7 million.

Racing Returns to Belmont Park

The 2026 opening day will be the first live racing at Belmont Park since July 9, 2023. Newsday reported that the reopening remains on schedule and that the opening-day card will feature the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup. NYRA's release also said the fall meet will include 32 graded events and run through December 6.

Key Details From the Schedule

NYRA said the rebuilt venue will open with a new main dirt track, two turf courses, and a one-mile synthetic oval. The fall meet is designed to consolidate NYRA's downstate racing program at Belmont and establish a foundation ahead of the 2027 Breeders' Cup World Championships. Newsday added that the new grandstand will not yet be at full capacity when racing resumes, with the broader construction project continuing into 2027.

What Comes Next

For racing fans, the headline is simple: Belmont Park is set to resume live racing on September 18, 2026, with a full stakes schedule already in place. The return marks a major step in NYRA's long-term rebuild of one of the sport's signature venues.